Printing-telegraph receiver.



No. 748,122. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903. J. D. WHITE.

PRINTING TELBGRAPH RECEIVER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1903.

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PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

V J. DIWIIIIE. `PRINTING EELEGREEII RECEIVER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1903.`

-3 SEBETSQSHEET 3.

NO MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PRINTING-TVELEGRAPH RECEIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,122, dated November3, 1903.

l Application filed January 3,1903. Serial No. 137.721. (No model.)

To a/ZZ w/wm it 19m/y con/cern:

Be it known that I, J AMES DUNDAs WHITE, a British subject, residing atClanricarde Gardens, London, England, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Printing- Telegraph Receivers, lof whichH the followingis a specification.

My improvements relate to printing-telegraph receivers of the classwhich print the characters in successive lines across a sheet of paper;and the objects of my invention are to provide a simple mechanism bywhich the characters are printed successively across the sheet withouteither the type or the paper being moved laterally and also a meanswhereby at the end of each line the paper is moved up ready for the newline. I shall describe the mechanism as operated by an electromechanicaldevice, by which the rotation of the type-cylinder is eifected bycurrents of one polarity sent along a single wire, while the othercylinder is operated by currents of the other polarity sent along thesame wire; but I do not limit the operation of the invention to thisparticular device. It may be also operated by any of theelectromechanical devices used to rotate type-wheels and to effectprinting, and a variation illustrating how one of these may be appliedto it is also shown.

I attain my objects by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings,of which- Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the ap* paratus as a whole;Fig. 2, aviewi'rom above of the typecylinder and the hammer-cylinderwith the paper between them. Fig. 3 is a side view of thehammercylinderand its supporting-frame, taken from the side adjacent to the paper; andFigs. at. and 5 are details 4of modifications. 4

1 is the main wire, along which currents of either polarity may be sentfrom an ordinary transmitter. In this circuit is the electromagnet 2,which attracts the armature 3, and the electromagnct 4, which attractsthe ar: mature 5. The armatures are so magnetized and the electromagnetsso wound that a current of one polarity (which I shall call the positivecurrent) causes the electromagnet 2 to attract the armature 3, but doesnot cause the electromagnet 4 to attract the armature 5, while a currentof the other polarity (which I shall call the negative current) causesthe electromagnet 4 to attract the armature 5, but does not cause theelectromagnet 2 to attract the armature 3. These two electromechanicaldevices operate, respectively, the type-cylinder (i and thehammer-cylinder 7, between which is arranged the paper 8.

` The type-cylinder 6, which is preferably a hollow cylinder of .lightmetal, has along its surface a succession of longitudinal rows of type!)9. The different rows (see Fig. 2) have dierent letters or characters;but throughout each separate longitudinal row the characters are thesame, and every row has the same number of characters, that number beingthe same as the number of letter-spaces which it is intended to have inthe line of print. This number may be as desired. In the accompanyingdrawings it is thirty-two. These rows of type are parallel to the axisof the cylinder, and they are placed around it one above another, sothat they resemble a series of similar type-wheels similarly set alongthe same axis with the letters of the alphabet progressing in regularorder around the wheel. These rows of characters may be of anyconvenient number. In the drawings they are represented as twenty-eight,of which twentyseven are occupied by the letters of the alphabet and one(marked l0) by the full stop, while the .remaining row (marked Il)corresponds to spacing and is left blank. From the end of the cylinderin line with this blank space projects an arm, which is bent around, asshown at l2, the bent part being sufficiently far out to allow it as thecylinder is revolved to pass clear of the hammer-cylinder 7 of the paper8 and of the inking-cylinder 13, which latter is kept in position by itsaxle lei playing in the slotted framework 15, and which inking-cylinderrests on thetype-cylinder 6, inking it as it revolves. x

The type-cylinder 6. is arranged so that it can be revolved about itsaxis 16. Fitted on the end of it is the toothed wheel 17, which isactuated by the arm of a push-andpull bifurcated lever 1S, pivoted at 19and having attached to it the armature 3. The two arms of this leverengage alternately the toothed wheel from opposite sides. As often asthe electromagnet 2 attracts the armature the lever is pulled up, and asoften as the magnet ceases to operate the spring 20 causes the lever toreturn to the stop 2l. Thus as often as the circuit 1 is closed by apositive current and opened again the arms of the lever alternately actupon the wheel. The proportions of the parts are such that successivedouble oscillations of this kind bring the successive rows of type 9 9successively to the position indicated by the dotted line 22,which Ishall call the printing-level. By this step-by-step mechanism successivepositive impulses serve to bring the required rows of characters to theprinting-level.

The hammer-cylinder 7 is a light cylinder of about,the same'length asthe other, having around it arranged as a single-turn spiral a series ofprojections 23 23, which I shall call the hammers or impact-faces andwhich are the same in number as the letters in any one of thelongitudinal rows and which while set in a spiral correspond with theletters in breadth and in height and in lateral position. This cylinder7rests on an axle 24, journaled in the rocking frame 25, which latter ispivoted at 26 about a stationary center and has above it the extension27, on which is located the armature 5. The general arrangement is suchthat as often as a negative current is sent along the line l theelectromagnet 4 attracts the armature 5, so that the framework 25,carrying the hammer or impact-cylinder 7, is rocked about the center 26against the type-cylinder 6, the paper 8 being between them. The partsof the cylinders which thus come into contact are of thehammer-cylinder, (the impact-face,) which is at the printing-level, andof the type-cylinder the opposite character of the row which is at thattime at the printing-level. The rocking parts fall back when the currentceases, and the stop 28 prevents them falling back too far. Besides thisrocking motion the cylinder 7 has a rotary movement on its axis, whichis produced as follows: On the end of the cylinder is the ratchet29,which has as many teeth as there are hammer-faces on the cylinder.The stationary upright 30 carries a pawl 3l,which engages in thisratchet, the proportions being such that when the hammer-cylinder fallsback after each stroke the ratchet 29 (which is kept from reversing bythe detent-pawl 32) is caught by the pawl 3l and moved around the spaceof one tooth, so that the impactface which was at the printing-level ismoved on and the face next below it is brought to the printing-level,ready for the next stroke. From the arrangement of the impact-faces itwill be seen that this next face besides being below the other is on theright side of it, with the general result that as stroke after stroke ismade the printing passes along from left to right and the lastimpact-face on the right is followed by the first on the left, thusbeginning a new line. Thus the printing in the manner described iseffected by negative pulsations through the wire l, while the nature ofthe characters printed is determined by the roller 37.

position of the type-cylinder 6 which is controlled by positivepulsations along the same wire.

The following arrangements are made for spacing: From the rocking frame25 projects the arm 33, which moves with it, but'which effects nothingexcept when the frame 25 is rocked against the type cylinder 6 and theblank row l1 is at the printing-level. When that happens, the projection33 comes against the projecting arm l2, and the proportions are suchthat this prevents the framework 25 and the hammercylinder 7 from comingas far as they otherwise would, but still allows them to come far enoughfor the return movement to cause the ratchet 29 to be caught and turnedthe space of a single tooth by the pawl 31, thus revolving thehammer-cylinder as if a character had been struck and causing spacingwithout printing.

Before a new line of print is begun the paper must be spaced up for it,and the general arrangement of the paper may now be described. The paper8, which is of a flexible character, is fed from the roll 34 around theroller 35, thence passes between the type-cylinder 6 and thehammercylinder 7, and is held between the small roller 36 and the largeOn the end of that roller is a ratchet 38, actuated by a lever 39through a pawl 40 and kept from reversing by another pawl 4l. On one endof this lever is the armature 42, opposite which is the electromagnet 43in the circuit 44, in which is the battery 45. As often as this localcircuit is closed the electromagnet 43 attracts the armature 42, sothat,

the lever 39 is moved, and the pawl 40 sends the ratchet 33, and so theroller 37, a step around, while as often as the circuit 44 isinterrupted the magnet ceases to attract the armature, and thecounterpoise 46 causes the lever 39 to return to I[he stop 47. Theproportions are such that each step of the ratchet sends the paper upsufficiently far for a new line of print to be begun. The arrangementsfor closing this circuit 44 at the right time are as follows: From theterminals 43 and 49 are suspended two light strips of metal 50 and 5l,which are conductors of electricity. Normally they hang just clear ofone another; but as often as the projection 52 on the end of thecylinder 7 (which projection is such as not to interfere with therotation of the cylinder) comes to a certain place in the course of itsrotation it encounters the strip 50,which it pushes against the strip5l, thus closing the circuit 44 and spacing up the paper. The projection52 is so placed as to do this only when the frame 25 and thehammer-cylinder 7 fall back after the stroke in which the hammer on theextreme right of the cylinder has been at printing-level, so that thepaper is spaced up between that stroke and the next stroke, which beginsthe new line.

I have described this invention as having the type-cylinder operated bycurrents of one polarity and the other cylinder as operated by IlO 4ma,12a

currents of the other polarity along the main wire; but, as alreadysaid, I do not limit the operation of the parts to this particulardevice. They may be operated also by any ot'- the otherelectromechanical devices which are used in printing-telegraphs forrotating type-wheels and for operating the printing strokes. One oi'such alternative methods is shown in Fig. 4. In that figure thetype-cylinder G is caused to rotate in the direclion indicated by thearrow by a weight or clockwork or other means, while the number of stepsto which it is rotated is governed by the escapement 53, which ispivoted as shown and engages on the ratchet 54, which is fixed on theend of the cylinder 6 and has half the number of teeth that the cylinderhas faces. The lower end of the escapement has a magnetized armature 55,which is between the electromagnets 56 and 57 on the circuit l, thegeneral arrangement being that of a polarized relay and the operationbeing such that rapid reversals ot' polarity in that circuit oscillatethe escapement and permit and control the step-by-step movement. Theelectromagnet 4 is slower in action than the magnets of the polarizedrelay, so that during the rapid changes of polarity it is ineffective;but as soon as the changes cease and the current flows continuously ineither direction this magnet attracts the armature 5, thus operating therocking movement, as already described. In this modification thearmature 5 is not magnetized, but is a plain piece of soft iron.

The mechanism may also be operated by a two-wire system, in which casethe intercepting-arms l2 and 33 may be eliminated. There may be no blankrow on the type-cylinder, and spacing without printing may be effected,whatever row is at the printing-level. In such a system the circuit l ispreferably used only to operate the type-cylinder, while, as shown inFig. 5, the second circuit is used forthe operations of the othercylinder. In this modiiication the upright 30, carrying the pawl 31, isfixed not rigidly, but on the pivot 58. Its range of movement isrestricted by the stop 59, against which it is normally kept pressed bythe spring 60, and on its lower end is the magnetized armature61,0ppcsite which is the electromagnet 62 in the second circuit 63. Inthe same circuit is the electromagnet 4, whichv attracts the magnetizedarmature 5, and so operates rocking, as already described. The armaturesare so magnetized and the magnets so wound that as often as a currentresuiting movement of that upright and pawl send the ratchet andcylinder a step around, thus eiecting spacing without printing.

I am aware that a stenographic and typewriting machine has beenheretofore devised in which a sheet of paper passes between a series ofanvil-faces progressing spirally around an axis and a series ofstraight-line printing-faces arranged like comb-teeth on the ends ofdepressible levers and adapted to advance and press the paper against ananvil-face along the spiral series as the latter is intermittentlyrotated, and I do not claim this principle of action.

In my invention a cylinder is provided with a series of alphabets andcharacters which progress around the cylinder and the letters l andcharacters of which series are multiplied or repeated in parallelalinement with the axis, so that there is a straight series of similarletters or characters arranged in rows parallel to the axis, and anothercylinder is arranged in parallel position to the firstnamed and bears asingle spirally-progressing series of impact-faces onA the other side ofthe paper, which cylinder is both intermittently rotated and movedbodily as a hammer to bring one of its impact-faces against the paperand the selected type-face of the other cylinder, the type-cylinderhaving an electrical step-by-step movement, so as to bring at will anyportion of the type-cylinder to the printing-level and thehammercylinder having both a regular progressive step-by-step movementto bring each impactface successively to the printing-level and havingalso an integral movement at right angles to its axis to deliver theprinting blow,

both said movements being effected by electromagnetic mechanismcontrolled by a circuit or circuits from adistant point, as hereinbeforedescribed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. An electromagnetic printing device, comprising a type-cylinder havingcircularly-arranged series of alphabets or characters disposed aroundthe cylinder with each letter of each circular series repeated in rowsparallel to the axis of the cylinder, a hammer-cylinder arrangedparallel to the rst-named cylinder and bearing a single row ofspirally-arranged impact-faces, electromagnetic actuat- IIO ing devicesfor imparting to one cylinder a` step-by-step1 rotary action andelectromagnetic actuating devices for imparting tothe other cylinderboth a rotarystep-by-step movement and an integral lateral movement todeliver the printing blow substantially as and for the purposedescribed. l

2. An electromagnetic printing device, comprising a type-cylinder havingcircularly-arranged series of alphabets or characters disposed aroundthe cylinder with each letter of each circular series repeated in rowsparallel to the axis of the cylinder, a hammer-cylinder arrangedparallel to the first-named cylinder and bearing a single row ofspirallyarranged impact-faces, andelectromagnetic actuating devicesforboth cylinders, the electromagnetic actuating device for one cylinderbeing constructed and arranged to be operated by a current of onepolarity and that of the other cylinder being constructed and arrangedto be operated by a current of the opposite polarity and thehammer-cylinder being arranged to move laterally to deliver the printingblow substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. An electromagnetic printing device comprising a type-cylinder havingcircnlarly-arranged series of alphabets or characters disposed aroundthe cylinder with each letter of each circular series repeated in rowsparallel to the axis of the cylinder, a hammer-cylinder arrangedparallel to the iirst-named cylinder and bearing a single row ofspirallyarranged impact-faces, electromagnetic actuating devices forboth cylinders arranged to be operated by electric currents, thehammer-cylinder being arranged to movelaterally to deliver the printingblow, and electromagnetic feeding devices for the paper substantially asand for the purpose described.

4. An electromagnetic printing device cornprsing a type-cylinder havingcircularly-arranged series of alphabets or characters disposed aroundthe cylinder with each letter of each circular series repeated in rowsparallel to the axis of the cylinder, electromagnetic devicesfoi-actuating the cylinder with a stepby-step rotary movement,ahammer-cylinder arranged in movable bearings parallel to theiirst-named cylinder and bearing a single row of spirally-arrangedimpact-faces, and electromagnetic actuating devices for both rotatingthis hammer cylinder with a stepby-step movement and also projecting itbodily toward the other cylinder to deliver a printing blowsubstantially as described.

JAMES DUNDAS VHITE.

lVitnesses Y CHARLES STUBBs, XV. J. VVEsTWooD.

